Page 67 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

“Here he is,” Asher says, bringing my attention to a black SUV with a man in a suit standing outside of it.

“Mr. Hart?” suit guy says, extending his hand, “my name is Morris. I’ll be your driver this weekend for your stay in the city. Here, I’ll take those.”

Morris reaches out as Asher takes our bags off his shoulder, and hands them to him. Once our bags are put away, Morris opens the door to the back of the SUV for us to slide inside.

“I know I keep saying this, but I can’t believe I’mactuallyhere. I’ve dreamed of it for so long, and I honestly didn’t expect to be here until Alex was at least in high school. Thank you again, Asher.”

“It’s nothing, baby. I’m glad I could be the one you experience it with. Next time, we’ll bring Alex and see every art gallery in the city.” He kisses my fingers that are entwined with his hand.

It seems like a dream, completely surreal, as we travel into the city, up the winding, busy streets. There are bright yellow cabs everywhere, honking as pedestrians jaywalk in front of them. I glance out the window up at the buildings looming over us.

It reminds me of Chicago, but on a level ten times bigger.

“We’re here, Mr. Hart. I’ll see to it that your bags are brought up to your room, and please send me a text or call whenever you would like me to be here,” Morris says, glancing at us in his rearview mirror. I notice that there is a privacy screen that is lowered, much like in limousines.

I’m not sure what expectations I had when agreeing to this trip, but something tells me that Asher is going to exceed anything I could have ever imagined.

I’m currently staring out at the entire city that’s lit up from our suite on the fifty-second floor. The suite itself is bigger than our entire apartment, and I’m just in awe. The view…it's incredible. The floor-to-window ceilings offer a panoramic view of Manhattan, and it’s enough to take my breath away.

My brain seems to be going a mile a minute, but…I’m happy. Happier than I can remember being in a long time. Asher took me to Les Trois Chevaux, a French restaurant for dinner and shared a bottle of wine. We talked about our families and our pasts. I learned his favorite colors and that he’s always wanted a dog.

It was the perfect date for our first night here.

Sometimes, it feels completely surreal that this is happening. That Asher is interested in me and that we’re roommates. Or more than roommates, I guess.

“What are you thinking about?” Asher murmurs from behind me. I feel his lips slide across my shoulder, as his hands wind around my hips, pulling me closer to him.

“About how happy I am.” I sigh as I lean back against his chest. “We’ve only been here not even twenty-four hours, and I don't know how you’ll top this, Asher.”

He chuckles against my skin. “Don’t underestimate me, Killer. I’ve got big plans.”

And I have no doubt. If they are anything like today then I know by the time we touch down back in Chicago, I will be longing for another weekend away.

My thoughts scatter when Asher’s hands travel up my sides slowly, until his thumbs brush the underside of my breasts. I suck in a sharp breath as his hands travel higher, cupping them from behind.

“I…I got something, and I want to show you.” I pant while his hands begin to explore my body. I wonder if it will always be this way. If I’ll always come alive whenever he touches me.

The barest brush of his thumb along the hardened peak of my nipple makes me arch against him.

“What’s that?” he asks.

I pull away from him and put distance between us. “Can you sit here?” My finger trembles, pointing to the plush chair facing the bed.

He nods then walks over to the chair and sits with his legs spread wide, and his arms resting on the arms of the chair. In this position, he looks like a king, and it makes me ache in ways I’ve never known.

“No peeking until I say, okay?”

Asher smirks, and gives the slightest nod, sitting back further in the chair and squeezing his eyes shut.

I dash over to my suitcase and quickly grab the surprise I packed, then go directly to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. It takes longer than I planned to get everything situated, but once I do, I take a long look at my reflection in the floor-length mirror on the back of the door.

The girl staring back at me seems like a stranger. I blink, trying to drink in my reflection. My hair is down, falling in curls almost to my waist. It’s been so long since I’ve had it cut, but I like to keep it long. My cheeks are flushed and red, partially because I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been, but also because I know that Asher’s waiting on the other side of this door.

And because I’m wearing the palest pink lingerie that I spent hours picking out for him. I’m not sure how he’ll react when seeing it, and I worry that maybe he’ll think it’s silly, but I’ve come too far to let my nerves get the best of me now.

Like Elijah says…I’m a badass bitch, and it’s time to own it. This body has carried my son, and I’ve worked hard for it. Spent hours in the gym and doing yoga, and I deserve to feel sexy and appreciated.

I blow out the breath I’ve been holding and finger the satin strap of the stockings on my legs. The light pink bustier accentuates my chest and brings out the undertones of my skin. I matched it with lace panties and a garter belt that clips into the stockings.

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